In a major milestone for digital music expression, ROLI announces that its innovative Airwave is now compatible with third-party MIDI keyboards and music software. Musicians and creators can now bring the power of Airwave’s spatial expression to any MIDI setup, blending ROLI’s Five Dimensions of Air — Air Raise, Air Tilt, Air Glide, Air Slide, and Air Flex — with their favorite tools.

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With Airwave, ROLI is creating an open platform for expression, enabling users to explore deeper connections with their instruments through hand-activated gestures. This compatibility has been developed based on extensive testing and direct user feedback. Now, artists can enjoy immersive experiences by placing Airwave behind any MIDI keyboard, connecting it with a simple USB, and calibrating via the Airwave Player (Beta).

For those new to ROLI’s spatial technology, Airwave translates natural hand movements into commands, producing unique sound modulations like crescendos, filter sweeps, and stereo-widening effects. This compatibility allows for ROLI’s expressive technology to enhance third-party instruments and software with intuitive, gesture-based control over soundscapes.

Enhanced DAW and Plug-In Control: Bringing Airwave’s Expression to New Software

Airwave’s Five Dimensions of Air aren’t limited to ROLI instruments anymore. Users can now map Airwave’s spatial capabilities to controls within DAWs and other MIDI-compatible plugins. This integration opens up a world of possibilities for controlling dynamic wavetables in Serum, adjusting dynamics in Kontakt, and customizing filters in Pigments, all with the wave of a hand. Airwave offers 10 MIDI CC channels — five per hand — giving artists control over multiple parameters and allowing them to create complex, organic modulation shapes.

Alongside DAWs like Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, FL Studio, and Pro Tools, DJs can use Airwave in software such as Serato and Traktor to blend, loop, and layer tracks with advanced spatial precision. The ability to control intricate modulation details with simple hand gestures marks a turning point in music production and live performance alike, as artists can now go beyond traditional controller interfaces for unique expressions.

Pushing Boundaries with ROLI’s Seaboard and Piano M Compatibility

While Airwave’s compatibility with third-party MIDI keyboards is a game-changer, the instrument is designed to work especially well with ROLI’s Seaboard and Piano M. This setup offers up to 10 dimensions of expression for advanced sound design. Combining the expressive touch of the Seaboard with Airwave’s spatial gestures creates a multi-dimensional approach to music that invites deeper experimentation. Artists who opt for this configuration will find even more nuanced control options, from blending sound textures to creating entirely new soundscapes.

For those interested in the Airwave-Seaboard experience, ROLI is offering exclusive preorder bundles until October 31. These bundles include up to $259 in savings on Airwave when combined with Seaboard 2, Seaboard M, or Piano M. The combination of these tools allows musicians to engage with their instruments in groundbreaking ways, whether creating in the studio or performing live.

FAQs about ROLI’s Airwave Compatibility

How does Airwave connect to third-party MIDI keyboards?
Airwave connects seamlessly via USB, and once positioned behind the MIDI keyboard, it’s ready for calibration using Airwave Player (Beta). This quick setup brings Airwave’s spatial expression to any compatible keyboard.

What MIDI controls can Airwave perform with third-party software?
Airwave offers control over MIDI CC data, allowing users to perform modulation with hand gestures for parameters like wavetables, dynamics, and filters in popular plugins and DAWs.

Is Airwave limited to specific DAWs or DJ software?
No, Airwave is designed to integrate with all major DAWs including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, FL Studio, Pro Tools, and DJ software like Serato and Traktor, providing vast compatibility for live and studio settings.

Does Airwave work best with specific ROLI products?
Airwave works exceptionally with ROLI’s Seaboard and Piano M, where it unlocks up to 10 dimensions of expression. However, it’s designed for universal compatibility and works with any MIDI keyboard setup.

What are the benefits of ROLI’s Seaboard bundles?
Until October 31, musicians can save up to $259 when purchasing Airwave bundled with Seaboard 2, Seaboard M, or Piano M. This pairing enhances expression and control for a unique, multi-dimensional music-making experience.

Conclusion

ROLI’s Airwave is now a game-changer for any MIDI setup, transforming third-party keyboards into instruments capable of spatial expression with intuitive hand gestures. From controlling plugin parameters to mapping complex modulations within DAWs, Airwave brings a fresh wave of expressive potential to digital music.

Artists can take advantage of ROLI’s exclusive bundles until October 31, enhancing their creative toolkit with a combination of the Seaboard and Airwave for advanced sound design capabilities.

The post ROLI’s Airwave Goes Big: Now Compatible with All MIDI Keyboards and Software appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.